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Reptile and Amphibian Encyclopedia > Snakes > Rattlesnakes
RattlesnakesRattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes, genera Crotalus and Sistrurus. They belong to the subfamily of venomous snakes known commonly as pit vipers.
There are approximately thirty species of rattlesnake, with numerous subspecies. They receive their name for the rattle located at the end of their tails. The rattle is used as a warning device when threatened. Most rattlesnakes mate in the spring. All species give live birth, rather than laying eggs. The young are self-sufficient from birth. Since they do not need their mother after birth, the mother does not remain with her young. However, at least one captive study has demonstrated that females and their neonates show some level of affinity for each other's company and will cross barriers to reunite if separated.
Contrary to popular myth, rattlesnakes are not deaf. In fact, the structure of their inner ears is very much like that of other reptiles. They do, however, lack external ears. Sound (whether from air or ground vibration) is transmitted to the snake's inner ear via bone and muscle.
Crotalus
- Eastern diamondback rattlesnake C. adamanteus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1799)
- Querétaro dusky rattlesnake C. aquilus (Klauber, 1952)
- Western diamondback rattlesnake C. atrox (Baird & Girard, 1853)
- Mexican west coast rattlesnake C. basiliscus (Cope, 1864)
- Santa Catalina rattlesnake C. catalinensis (Cliff, 1954)
- Sidewinder C. cerastes (Hallowell, 1854)
- South American rattlesnake C. durissus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Baja California rattlesnake C. enyo (Cope, 1861)
- Cerralvo Island rattlesnake C. e. cerralvensis (Cliff, 1954)
- Lower California rattlesnake C. e. enyo (Cope, 1861)
- Rosario rattlesnake C. e. furvus (Lowe & Norris, 1954)
- Timber rattlesnake C. horridus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Mexican small-headed rattlesnakeC. intermedius (Troschel, 1865)
- Autlán rattlesnake C. lannomi (Tanner, 1966)
- Rock rattlesnake C. lepidus (Kennicott, 1861)
- Speckled rattlesnake C. mitchellii (Cope, 1861)
- Black-tailed rattlesnake C. molossus (Baird & Girard, 1853)
- Western rattlesnake C. oreganus Holbrook, 1840)
- Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake C. polystictus (Cope, 1865)
- Twin-spotted rattlesnakeC. pricei (Van Denburgh, 1895)
- Tancitaran dusky rattlesnake C. pusillus (Klauber, 1952)
- Red diamond rattlesnake C. ruber (Cope, 1892)
- Mohave rattlesnake C. scutulatus (Kennicott, 1861)
- Huamantlan rattlesnake C. s. salvini (Günther, 1895)
- Mohave rattlesnake C. s. scutulatus (Kennicott, 1861)
- Middle American rattlesnake C. simus (Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801)
- Northwestern neotropical rattlesnake C. s. culminatus (Klauber, 1952)
- Central American rattlesnake C. s. simus (Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801)
- Yucatán neotropical rattlesnake C. s. tzabcan (Klauber, 1952)
- Long-tailed rattlesnake C. stejnegeri (Dunn, 1919)
- Tiger rattlesnake C. tigris (Kennicott In Baird, 1859)
- Tortuga island diamond rattlesnake C. tortugensis (Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1921)
- Totonacan rattlesnake C. totonacus (Gloyd & Kauffeld, 1940)
- Cross-banded mountain rattlesnake C. transversus (Taylor, 1944)
- Mexican dusky rattlesnake C. triseriatus (Wagler, 1830)
- Western dusky rattlesnake C. t. armstrongi Campbell, 1979)
- Dusky rattlesnake C. t. triseriatus (Wagler, 1830)
- Prairie rattlesnake C. viridis (Rafinesque, 1818)
- Ridge-nosed rattlesnake C. willardi (Meek, 1905)
Sistrurus
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